Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Policy is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare individuals to pursue research, teaching, advocacy, public service, and/or consulting in a variety of settings ranging from universities to policy research organizations, public agencies, and private consulting firms. The degree may be pursued on a full- or part-time basis.

The degree program is offered through a collaboration between the Departments of Public Administration and Political Science in the Hatfield School of Government. Faculty members across the entire College of Urban and Public Affairs contribute expertise to the program as well.

The curriculum focus is governance, the integrated study of political, administrative, and policy processes. This curriculum is taught against the backdrop of globalizing economies and political systems seeking to recognize governance in a modern world characterized by both cooperation and conflict among the public, private, and non-profit organizations.

The doctoral program in Public Affairs and Policy is designed to enable students to approach governance as an applied area of knowledge in which theory informs and is informed by real-world practice.

Admission requirements

International Agreements

Degree requirements

Program Rules

Research and Teaching Opportunities

International Agreements

The Hatfield School of Government is under a university-level memorandum of understanding with Khon Kaen University in Thailand and Cukurova University in Adana, Turkey. The Hatfield School maintains an active relationship with the College of Local Administration at Khon Kaen University (COLA) and the Department of International Relations at Cukurova University and welcomes HSOG graduate students as part of these partnerships. Graduate students seeking opportunities for coursework, research, and professional development in the context of developing areas and emerging Asia and Turkey are encouraged to contact the Director of the Hatfield School for more information.